Horwath Mak Limited (Dubai International Financial Centre - DIFC)

Size in country: The Horwath Mak network has thirteen branches in the UAE, and one each in Oman, Azerbaijan and Afghanistan. They employ over 300 people.

Organization details: Horwath Mak is a member of Crowe Horwath International, and is registered in the UAE since 1981.

'ACCA qualified professionals suit our firm best,' says Saad Maniar, managing partner at Horwath Mak Limited DIFC. 'By recruiting them, we have ready access to professionals with expertise in virtually all industries, as well as other national and international resources. Through the expertise of our ACCA personnel and the support of Crowe Horwath International, we aim to provide assistance in many multistage activities.'

Taking account of the financial reporting needs of small and medium sized entities is vital according to Horwath Mak. 'Adopting International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) not only ensures this,' says Saad, 'But as world economies have become increasingly interlinked, harmonisation of accounting standards allows easier comparison for all stakeholders.' In this regard, the firm is confident that their ACCA trainees and members possess the necessary familiarity with auditing standards and IFRS which is essential considering the globalisation of international financial markets and the phenomenal growth rate of Dubai.

Horwath Mak encourages its ACCA trainees to balance work experience and career development opportunities by providing them with on-the-job training in addition to other structured training sessions throughout the year. In recognition of the excellent support offered to ACCA trainees, Horwarth Mak holds ACCA's highest level of accreditation as a Platinum ACCA Approved Employer – trainee development. The firm also organises various member development initiatives and hosts an annual global partners' meeting as part of their commitment to continuing professional development (CPD).

The firm's links with ACCA go beyond business-to-business. In a personal capacity, Saad has worked closely with ACCA on a global level as a member of ACCA's international assembly and has also been associated with the local ACCA office in Dubai. Saad concludes: 'Our firm constantly endeavors to provide quality support to our finance staff and this ensures our strong link with ACCA.'